Who needs expensive floor cleaners? Skip the store-bought stuff and make your own by adding ½ cup of vinegar to a gallon of hot water. Don’t let the scent of vinegar dissuade you from mixing up a batch; a few drops of lemon, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oil can mask the acidic odor. This homemade cleaner will work on almost any floor type, but avoid using it on waxed finishes where it can do damage.
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Sudsy Solution
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Ditch Disposables
The convenience of disposable dusting cloths is undeniable, but consider the money you're spending to throw these one-use wonders in the trash. If you're looking to cut your cleaning costs, an old sweatshirt makes a good zero-dollar substitute for fancy dusters. Dig a worn and ragged crew neck from the back of your closet, cut it into strips, and get cleaning with your washable, reusable stand-ins.
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Outside the Box
A truly organized home could be yours, with the right storage solution. You can find plenty of pricey organizers in stores, but you'll get just as much clutter-busting power from things you already have on hand. Try separating sweaters or socks with drawer dividers made from cut up cardboard boxes. Or, use an old muffin tin to keep a junk drawer or jewelry collection tidy.
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Milk the Jug for All It's Worth
Green thumbs can get even greener by adopting this eco-friendly hack. Skip the watering can and go for a repurposed plastic gallon jug instead. Simply drill small holes into the lid, fill the jug with water. You can use the milk-jug watering can all summer long; when winter comes, recycle the jug—and done!
Related: 19 "Zero Dollar" Garden Hacks
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Shoebox Shadowbox
That old shoebox could be the start of a stunning gallery wall. Grab a can of spray paint and a few shoeboxes. Give each box a couple coats of paint. Once dry, use command strips or screws to attach the boxes to the wall. Depending on the sturdiness of the box, you can fill your makeshift shelf with a small vase, picture frames, or other artistic touches.
Related: 18 New Uses for Old Shoeboxes
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Wrap It Up
Corral books, toys, and other odds and ends without spending a dime on organizing bins. Rather than splurge on rubber tubs or plastic bins, rely on a trusty cardboard box. Make it fit into your design scheme by wrapping it in colorful paper or fabric. For an extra special touch, add handles made from a cast-off leather belt or strips of wide ribbon.
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Fresh Scents
For a sweet-smelling home on the cheap, make your own air freshener from used coffee grounds. Let the coffee grounds dry out, then scoop them into an old sock and bind with string to create a simple sachet. Another way to clear the air without spending money? Spritz cotton balls with perfume or cologne and tuck them into linen closets, dresser drawers or anywhere that could use freshening up.
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Instant Wipes
Copycat cleaning wipes are a simple DIY that anyone can do. Cut a roll of paper towels in half and place one half of the tube in an empty coffee can. Mix ½-cup vinegar, ¼-cup water, ¼-cup rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dish soap in a separate bowl. Slowly pour the mixture over the paper towels. Once the towels are fully saturated, remove the inner paper towel tube and begin pulling tissues from the middle of the roll whenever you need quick cleaning power.
Related: 15 Ways to Fake a Clean House
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Scrubbing Power
The grimiest tub, tile, and grout doesn't doesn't call for toxic cleansers or bleach, if baking soda will do. Mix up a potent cleaner by combining 1 cup of baking soda, ½ cup of grated bar soap, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Pulse the ingredients in the food processor until it's ground to a fine powder. Add the mixture to a mason jar with a shaker lid and pour it on virtually every bathroom surface for a sparkling clean finish.
Related: How To: Get Your Bathroom Guest-Ready in 20 Minutes or Less
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Get the Squeak Out
A dab of Vaseline can cure cracked lips, protect cuts and burns—and get the squeak out of a door. Grab a jar of the stuff from your bathroom medicine cabinet and slather it on the hinges of the offending door. Then look forward to the sounds of silence.
Related: 9 Home Repair Remedies to Borrow from the Medicine Cabinet
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See the House of the Week
Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!
